Jeans

Q: What was the biologist wearing on his first date with a hot chick?
A: Designer jeans.

Before one can know about genes, Jeans has become a trendsetter. There were days when men were considered freaks and rebels if they wore jeans, and women were looked at, with disgust. However, of late, jeans have become the most comfortable wear even to older women. Of course Indian women do object to it when in India but somehow they don’t find it odd to wear them abroad.

Those were the days in 70s when men roamed about with bell bots or tights (Whatever they called those pants) and a sideburn to sport. 80s fashion made name brands appear in the market. Jeans became a trendsetter with all those brand names making it talked about. Denim, Levis has been there as long as one remembers with other brands coming and going in the market. Wrangler is a popular brand among women.

Bachelors loved the comfort of jeans, not only for wearing, but they were also happy that they be washed only after 3 to 4 days wear. Those who stayed at hostels found it convenient because of the permanent water shortage in hostels. They could do with a pair for one long week.

The name “jeans” comes from 'Genoese' the name for Italian sailors of Genoa who when at sea dressed in blue thick fabric composed of a cotton and wool or linen blend

By 1940, Jeans became a leisurewear in US. It is said that Marlon Brando started wearing it in 1950s and it became associated with the pop and rock and roll music as well.

Jeans became popular mainly because of the “western movies” or the “cowboy” movies as they called it. Denim became popular in 1950s.

In 1980, designer jeans came into vogue and we could see men roaming about in torn jeans and stone washed jeans and people waited with abated breath to see what would become of these jeans next. However, anything which becomes a fad is generally objected by the older generation. Teenage students started wearing them and the parents who associated jeans to the hippies felt that it was a symbol of rebel if the teenagers wore it, more so, when faded jeans came into fashion. Even now jeans are considered casual wears and objected to by schools and colleges.

When jeans was considered a symbol of rebel, it became even more so when women started wearing it. Old-fashioned women were not happy about these skintight wears. Some Churches also do not allow jeans because wearing jeans means showing disrespect to God, they say.

In 2000, the brands came out with jackets and shoes etc made out of the same material, which was once used, by coal miners and sailors as work clothes.

However not everyone looks nice with jeans as the joke goes:

A woman had gained a few pounds. It was most noticeable to her when she squeezed into a pair of her old blue jeans. Wondering if the added weight was noticeable to everyone else, she asked her husband, "Honey, do these jeans make me look like the side of the house?" "No, dear, not at all," he replied, "Our house isn't blue."

There is also this joke about a happy dieting woman.

After going on a diet, a woman felt really good about herself, especially when she was able to fit into a pair of jeans she had outgrown a long time ago."Look! Look!" she shouted while running downstairs to show her husband. "I can wear my old jeans again!" Her husband looked at her for a long time, then he said, "Honey, I love you, but those are my jeans."

It was also a tough task to distinguish between men and women when they started wearing similar type of jeans and T-shirts.. There is this case of a mother and a daughter!

A: Just look at that young person with the short hair and blue jeans. Is it a boy or a girl? B: It's a girl. She's my daughter. A: Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know that you were her father. B: I'm not. I'm her mother.

Of late, Levis Brand is making a technology revolution. Sources say that Ipod compatible jeans are a talk in the market.

“Designed for both men and women, the jeans seamlessly integrate iPod plug and play technology giving music enthusiasts the most innovative and fashionable way to enjoy music on the go. The jean is designed to be compatible with most iPod systems and features include a special joystick incorporated into the jeans' watch pocket to enable easy operation of the iPod “

Therefore, jeans are here to stay!